Pakistan and Italy Sign €20 Million Loan for Agricultural Skills
Pakistan and Italy signed a concessional loan agreement worth €20 million, equivalent to approximately Rs6.3 billion, on Monday to enhance professional skills in the agricultural sector.
The agreement was signed in Islamabad by Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Muhammad Humair Karim, and Italian Ambassador to Pakistan, Marilina Armellin. The funds will support Pakistan’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) National Reform Programme.
The 42-month project aims to strengthen the country’s TVET system with a focus on agriculture, improving professional skills, technical certification, and innovation across agricultural value chains. The stated goals include enhancing productivity, promoting sustainable farming practices, and improving rural livelihoods.
Under the programme, an estimated 18,398 beneficiaries, including farmers, women, youth, and trainers, will receive modern, demand-driven training through 720 courses. The initiative will also develop 11 standardised training curricula.
A key focus will be on developing high-value crops and agro-food value chains. Training will cover horticulture production, processing, and marketing for crops such as olives, pistachios, dates, mushrooms, cherries, grapes, peaches, and almonds, leveraging Italian expertise.
The project also includes significant infrastructure development:
- Establishment of 12 model orchards and nurseries.
- Creation of 8 climate-resilient eco-villages.
- Construction of 5 agro-food processing units.
- Development of 2 national centres of excellence: one in Sargodha for kinnow and citrus, and another in Turbat for dates.
The Pakistan Oilseed Department will implement the project in collaboration with provincial agriculture departments. The initiative is expected to create new employment opportunities in rural areas, increase farmers’ incomes, and reduce post-harvest losses.
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Under the agreement, five agri-food processing units and two national centres of excellence will be established. The centres will be located in Sargodha for kinnow and orange production and in Turbat for date production.
The initiative will place a special focus on crops including olives, pistachios, dates, mushrooms, cherries, grapes, peaches, and almonds. Special training centres will also be established for individuals involved in horticultural production, processing, and marketing to enhance the capacity of farmers and extension staff.
Posted: 10 hours ago
Nawai Waqt
پاکستان اور اٹلی کے درمیان 20 ملین یورو کے رعایتی قرض کے معاہدے پر دستخط
پاکستان اور اٹلی کے درمیان 20 ملین یورو کے رعایتی قرض کے معاہدے پر دستخط ہوگئے۔
Posted: 12 hours ago
Business Recorder
Pakistan, Italy sign €20m loan agreement to strengthen agricultural skills
Pakistan and Italy on Monday signed a concessional loan agreement worth €20 million (around Rs6.3 billion) to support professional capacity building in agriculture under Pakistan’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) National Refor
Posted: 13 hours ago
Nawai Waqt
اٹلی پاکستان کو 6.3 ارب روپے قرض دے گا، معاہدے پر دستخط
اسلام آباد: پاکستان اور اٹلی کے درمیان 20 ملین یورو (6.3 ارب روپے) کے رعایتی قرضے کے معاہدے پر دستخط ہوگئے۔